Meanings
- uncountableThe manufacture of three-dimensional solid objects from digital models.
Synonyms: AM, additive manufacturing
- sometimesspecificallyuncountableSuch manufacture that uses thermoplastics.
Synonyms: AM, additive manufacturing
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of 3D print
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe manufacture of three-dimensional solid objects from digital models.
nounSuch manufacture that uses thermoplastics.
Origin
The narrower sense was the earliest sense, at a time when its referent was the only commercialized type (late 20th century). The broader sense has since eclipsed the narrower one.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 3D打印
- 3D打印 (sāndī dǎyìn)manufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Estonian kolmemõõtmeline printimine
- kolmemõõtmeline printiminemanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Finnish 3D-tulostus, kolmiulotteinen tulostus
- 3D-tulostusmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
- kolmiulotteinen tulostusmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
- esinetulostusmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Hindi त्रिविम मुद्रण
- त्रिविम मुद्रण (trivim mudraṇ)manufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Polish druk przestrzenny, druk 3D
- druk przestrzennymanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
- druk 3Dmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Portuguese impressão 3D
- impressão 3Dmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Russian 3D-печа́ть
- 3D-печа́ть (3D-pečátʹ)manufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Spanish impresión 3D
- impresión 3Dmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Swedish 3D-utskrift, 3D-printteknik
- 3D-utskriftmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
- 3D-printteknikmanufacture of three-dimensional solid objects
Cite this entry
3D printing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3D%20printing
“3D printing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3D%20printing. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “3D printing,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3D%20printing.
Source: 3D printing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.